Pogo stick



Jan. 22, 1963 L Filed April 4, 1960 R. B. TAYLOR 3,074,715

POGO STICK 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I05 89 m I 53 23 7 93 Q 9 H ii 6 4 27 I03 95 T q 9 29 87 [0! '9 35 85 o 9 I '59 O 650 o 83 [III1 I-\ H l l I 33 |I I I J .49 47 2/ l 51:2 57 as 5153 1/5 T FIG. (I

" 7 INVENTOR.

W h ROBERT E. TAYLOR BY U ,3

ATTORNEY Jan.22,1963 R. B. 'I'I'AJYLOR 3,074,715

POGO STICK Filed April 4, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 9 g r,

FIG. 2

' INVENTOR. ROBERT B. TAYLOR Jan. 22, 1963 R. B. +AYLOR 3,074,715

POGO STICK Filed April 4, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I!!! II 5 o 35 I'll I 65 O O I FIG. 3

INVENTOR. ROBERT E. TAYLOR Jan. 22, 1963 R. BfTAYLOR 3,074,715

POGO STICK Filed April 4, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l I 1 I 'l s w s 7 I2! II7 FIG. 7

6! W mg FIG. 8

. INVENTOR ROBERT B. TAYLOR tinned rates Patent Patented Jan. 22, i963 3&6

3,074,715 P060 SliilCK Robert ii. Taylor, Fort Wayne, ind, assignor to Rocket Pogo Stick Company, Huntertown, End, a partnership Filed Apr. d, 1%9, tier. No. 19,631 4 (Ilaims. (6!. 272-57) This invention relates to athletic recreational equipment and consists primarily of improvements in a device used to facilitate jumping in fairly rapid succession with considerable ease when skill in the use of the device has been acquired by the operator thereof. A device of this kind is ordinarily known as a pogo stick.

A pogo stick proper is generally comprised of a pole, or a tubular structure resembling a pole, about five feet in length over all, a spring actuated extension at the bottom of the pole, and suitable cross members to support the feet of the user, at an elevation about one foot above the lower end of the stick.

Since the spring incorporated therein is designed to keep the bottom part of the stick extended unless compressed by application of considerable force, a person skilled in the use of the stick can make a number of successive jumps with ease by holding the nearly upright pole or tube firmly with the hands and by mounting the feet on the support therefor, thus essentially riding the device by causing successive compressions of the main spring, which upon its recoil imparts an upward and forward motion to the body of the person using the device.

There are several different styles of pogos, some of which have handle bars and a tubular structure symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the center spring with suitable guides and control points for said spring rigidly fastened to said tubular structure as a combination which accomplishes the same objective. Other variations in construction can be made as long as the combination of the minimum essential elements required for locomotion is retained.

It requires considerable practice and skill to continue jumping without interruption for any appreciable period of time and because of the skill required the device has been in general use as a means of recreation and exercise for many years.

Since a device of this kind generally appeals to youthful people who enjoy noises, especially those generated by firecrackers and the like, or by horns of various kinds, or who enjoy sparklers or lighting novelties, the present invention provides a means by which the use of a pogo stick may be accompanied by explosive sounds or the sound of a siren horn, or both.

Moreover, well known equivalents of the mechanical principles employed make it possible to generate light or sound, or both, either by generating electric current by means of a small generator, using said current to produce either light or sound, or both, or sparkling light as well as sound, may be generated by friction or vibration.

The design of the present invention includes provision for completely safe operation insofar as all of the constituent elements thereof are concerned. Although the percussion caps used are not dangerous, they are carefully covered in the structure to avoid misadventure. Furthermore, the construction is such that the magnitude of the sound produced may not adversely affect the tranquility of the community to an extent beyond that caused by such commonly used toys as cap pistols, or bicycle horns.

Two representative embodiments of the present invention, involving in the one case the production of noise by firing percussion paper caps, and in the other case by producing noise with a siren horn, either or b th in one pogo stick, are fully described herein. It will be readily seen that many combinations and variations of devices to produce physical sense response may be associated with and actuated simultaneously by the operation of the pogo stick in which they are incorporated without departing from the principles herein set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and wherein reference symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur:

FIG. 1 is a part sectional view of a pogo stick of the present invention, taken at 11 in FIG. 4, showing both the cap firing and siren actuating mechanism in a single unit, when there is no downward thrust on the pogo stick.

FIG. 2 is a part sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1 representing the relative position of the parts under at least partial compression in a downward direction by the application of a downward force applied, for example, by the Weight of a person on the main cross members.

FIG. 3 is a part sectional view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the relative positions of the stationary and moving parts with an explosive cap strip advanced to locate a single explosive cap in the proper position and with the firing hammer raised to the proper height immediately before firing.

FIG. 4 is a part sectional view, in a plane perpendicular to the main tubular body of the pogo stick, showing one means of forming and mounting a step to the main tubular body with bolts and spacers so arranged to provide adequate space between opposed plates to house the cap advancing and exploding mechanism, the siren operating mechanism and/or other operating mechanism selected.

FIG. 5 is a part sectional elevational view of the device of F IGS. 1 and 2, showing the location and arrangement of a movable cover plate over an opening provided for loading an explosive cap tape roll.

FIG. 6 is a part sectional view taken at 6-6 in FIG. 7 showing the cap firing mechanism of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 with means for facilitating the insertion of the paper percussion cap tape.

FIG. 7 is a part sectional plan view showing the essential parts of FIG. 6 associated with the insertion of the paper percussion cap tape.

FIG. 8 is a part phantom view of the back of the cap firing mechanism enclosure of FIG. 6 showing the essential parts associated with the insertion of the paper percussion cap tape.

The main tubular body 1 comprising the stick portion of the device is usually about four to live feet in length, preferably made of hollow metal tubing. The lower end of the main tubular body is fitted with an annular plug 3 so securely fastened within said body 1 that it cannot be moved or dislodged therefrom by the application of substantial downward thrust or impact. The shaft or rod 5 with axis coincident to the axis of body 1 at the lower end of the latter passes thru plug 3 with sufiicient clearance for rod 5 to move freely upwardly and downwardly whenever proper force is applied in either direction.

In order to guard against any slippage or downward movement of the plate 15 assembly, the plug 3 is provided with flange 21 to support the curved portion of the plates 15, which encompass body 1 and are held securely thereto by suitable bolts, screws and spacers.

The upper end of rod 5, which extends through plug 3 into body 1, tightly fixed to a piston 7 which can move freely upwardly and downwardly within said body 1 and in slidable contact with the inner surface of the lower end thereof.

A relatively strong coil spring 9 of the compression type with forceful downward contact on piston '7 extends upward in the main tubular body 1 as far as required to provide suitable movement of and adequate downward thrust against piston 7 during its upward and downward movement. Spring 9 is affixed to body 1 by suitable means such as by a reduction in the diameter of body 1 or by an annulation therein. The location of the upper 3 extremity of spring 9 will depend on the type of spring and length of travel required of piston 7 and the rate of increase in pressure on piston 7 required.

The shaft or rod extends downward below plug 3 a distance of the order of ten inches, said distance being optional and being determined by a number of factors including particularly the length or height of the jump required for any weight classification of person for whom said pogo stick is designed.

Since the lower end of rod 5 comes in contact with the ground, with or without a special surface thereon, as for example a concrete sidewalk, a paved street or a floor, said lower end of rod 5 is fitted with a cylindrical collar 11 firmly affixed to red 5 and terminating with a resilient plus 13, thereby reducing possible wear and damage to collar 11 or the lower end of shaft 5, or the surface against which the pogo stick strikes.

A suitable cross member is required at or near the lower end of the main tubular body 1 for the purpose of providing support for the feet of the user of the pogo stick. While there are many ways in which this may be accomplished, a preferred means is shown in FIG. 4 wherein the principal support is provided by two substantially identical metal plates 15, said plates 15 being so formed as to fit tightly around the main tubular body 1 and each plate having the upper portion thereof bent at a right angle outwardly so that when two of said plates 15 are properly clamped around body 1, at or near the bottom thereof, the assembly of the two plates forms a platform-like top for the support of the feet of the person using the pogo stick. This platform-like assembly may be hereinafter identified as the step.

The plates 15 are held in position, fitting tightly against body 1, by means of bolts or machine screws and nuts 17 and said plates 15 are properly spaced, each from the other, by spacers 19 through which the bolts or rivets 17 pass. The space thus provided between the two halves of the vertical portion of the assembly of plates 15 is sufficient to permit the mounting of suitable mechanical assemblies intended for producing noise, such as that pro- :duced by exploding a percussion paper cap or by operating a small siren.

In the space thus provided between plates 15 in forming the cross members or step, suitable mechanisms for driving apparatus for performing other functions are mounted, said mechanisms being actuated by the normal operation or use of the pogo stick. To accomplish this purpose, one or more suitable mechanisms can be incorporated in the pogo stick assembly and so function as a unit in the combination therewith in that they receive power for their operation from the operation of the spring of the pogo stick. On such mechanical mechanism the upward and downward motion of piston 7' moves an actuating arm or trigger 23 between the position shown in FIG. 1 and the position shown in FIG. 2. The actuating arm is used to operate a percussion paper cap firing de vice much in the same manner as in the operation of a similar mechanism in a cap pistol.

The actuating :arm 23 operates the paper cap feeding pawl 25 which serves to position the respective percussion caps in the paper tape roll 27, the latter being held in position on pin 29. With a cap in the tape thus advanced in proper position for firing, the hammer 31, having been naised sufiiciently to provide a substantial striking blow to the cap due to the action of spring 51, as shown in FIG. 3, is quickly released and is driven forcefully against the cap and anvil at area 33 thereby crushing .the cap between hammer 31 and the fixed anvil 35 causing the cap to explode. The spent tape 37 is expelled from the end of the assembly.

The pin 29 is preferably mounted on one plate 15 extending inwardly toward the opposite plate 15 and is of sufiicient length to hold a roll of percussion paper caps securely. On the latter plate 15, and directly opposite the roll of percussion paper caps, an opening in said plate 15 is provided (see FIG. 5}, said opening being of sufficient size to permit easy insertion of a roll of percussion paper caps 27 on pin 29 and also to provide access to hammer 31, pawl 25 and anvil 35 for the purpose of threading the paper tape of percussion caps 27 into the mechanism.

The trigger or actuating arm 23 extends into the main tubular body 1 through a narrow vertical slit 39 into said body 1, said slit 39 being so located that the inner extension of said actuating arm 23 is located adjacent to and between both piston 7 and plug 3 when spring 9 is fully extended, as shown in FIG. 1.

Actuating arm 23 is supported by pin 41 which passes through an elongated aperture 43 in said arm 23, said elongated aperture 43 being required to permit arm 23 to return to its initial position after the release of hammer 31 at the time of firing a cap. Pin 41 may be mounted in one of plates 15 or it may extend through both of said plates 15 in the assembly. The actuating arm 23 is provided with an offset portion 45 as a provision for avoiding contact with hammer 31 and also to provide a mounting for the attachment of pawl 25 by means of pin 47 which passes through a hole in pawl '25, said pin 47 being firmly affixed to arm 23.

The actuating arm 23 and pawl 25 are urged toward the position shown in PEG. 1 by the force supplied by spring 49, being held at the lower end by an offset therein, passing through aperture 53 in plate 15. This spring 49 also passes over pin 52 and the lower end of said spring 4-9 is attached to pawl 25 by means of a notch 55 in said pawl 25.

The hammer 31 is mounted on screw 57 attached to at least one of the plates 15 so that the aperture in hammer 31 permits hammer 31 to move freely but not loosely in the mounting. Hammer 31 is urged toward anvil 35 by the force applied by spring 51, which is mounted in tension between the notch shown in the rear portion of hammer 31 and stationary pin 59, said pin 59 being fas tened to one of plates 15.

That portion of plates 15 which lie in a horizontal plane when the axis of the pogo stick is vertical (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8) may be covered with rubber pads 61, or other resilient material, to provide a slip resistant step and cover the operating mechanisms between plates 15.

With the hands grasping the upper part of the main tubular body 1, the placing of the feet on the steps formed by plates 15 and covered by pads 61 causes the weight of the operator to produce a downward thrust on the assembly. Since the resilient plug 13 in collar 11, which is aflixed to rod 5, is ordinarily in contact with a substantially incompressible surface, such as a street or sidewalk, said rod 5 is prevented from making any downward motion with the result that the downward motion applied by the operator is absorbed by compression of coil spring 9 caused by the upward thrust of piston 7. The distance travelled by piston 7 upwardly is dependent upon the amount of force applied downwardly, but in general it will be substantial and enough to cause piston 7 to move from its position, as shown in FIG. 1, to a position such as that shown in FIG. 2, or above same until limited by the contact of collar 11 with flange 21 of plug 3.

As the piston 7 moves upward, actuating arm 23 through the action of spring 49 is caused to rotate around pin 41 and when its pointed extremity comes in contact with trip shoulder 63 of hammer 31, slot 43 of said actuating arm 23 moves upward on pin 41 permitting the said actuating arm 23 to pass by the trip shoulder 63 of hammer 31 and continue to the position shown in FIG. 2, its upper limit of travel being fixed by contact of actuating arm 23 with a stationary pin stop 53. During this movement, spring 49 causes pawl 25 to rotate around pin 47 attached to actuating arm 23 into the position shown in FIG. 2, as well as providing the necessary force to cause the described movement of actuating arm 23.

As the main spring 9 overcomes the" applied force due to the action of the operator, piston 7 is thrust downward until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 1 and in its downward passage said piston 7 comes in contact with actuating arm 23 on the extension thereof, which extends through the slit or opening 39 in the side of the main tubular body 1, causing the actuating arm 23 to rotate around pin 41. As said rotation continues the actuating arm 23 makes contact with the hammer trip shoulder 63 causing hammer 31 to be raised from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that position shown in FIG. 3, and still further until it is released by disengagement with actuating arm 23. As the rotation of said actuating arm 23 continues, the hammer 31 is released by the passage of the arm 23 past the hammer trip shoulder 63 thus releasing the hammer 31 and permitting said hammer 31 to be urged toward anvil 35 by the continuously applied force of spring 51, thus causing a percussion paper cap advanced to said anvil 35 to explode when same is struck forcefully at anvil surface 33.

In addition to the movements described, the actuating arm 23 as it rotates around pin 41 brings the end of pawl 25 into contact with a percussion cap tape 27 as it lies on anvil 35 at a location identified as 65 whereupon the action of the pawl 25 causes the tape .to advance, thus moving a new unfired paper percussion cap into position to be fired by the action of hammer 31 against anvil 35 at the anvil surface 33, said pawl 25 being held in forcible contact with the paper tape cap by the action of spring 49.

A very important item concerns the nature of the explosive charges in the paper tape. While the distance between each charge is practically constant, the line of explosive charges is rarely in the center of the tape longitudinally, or even nearly so. This affects the design of the feeding pawl 25 which must be of such a shape as to avoid strong contact with the tape at the spot where the explosive is located and yet must make firm contact with the paper tape at the lower end of the slope on anvil 35 and maintain fairly uniform pressure contact as pawl 25' is caused to advance, thus advancing the paper tape 27 a distance substantially equal to the distance from the center of one explosive cap in tape 27 to the center of the next succeeding cap. A groove can be provided at 65 of anvil arm 35 or the feeding pawl 25 can be arched in the center or a small part of its center cut away to prevent contact with the caps in or near the center of tape 27.

As shown in FIG. 5, an opening in plate 15 provides for the loading of cap tape roll 27. The cover 110 therefor is held in position by the force of coil spring 112 (FIG. 4) compressed on and around screw or bolt 113, thus causing the movable cover plate 110 to maintain close contact with the face of plate 15. The side of the movable cover 110 adjacent to plate 15 may be fitted with a disk having a thickness substantially equal to that of plate 15, said disk being so fitted to cover plate 110 as to cause said disk to drop into the opening and remain held there firmly by the spring force applied to the cover plate by spring 112 around bolt 113. If desired, the lower portion of this cover plate 110 can be bent up at a right angle or may be cut away, thus leaving the place of firing the caps 33 exposed and resulting in increased noise of the explosion of caps by the mechanism.

While it is possible to load the device by inserting the paper tape 27 from the roll under feeding pawl 25 and hammer 31 by raising certain parts with the fingers, it is not deemed a practical method especially for children. Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a pin 115 is firmly attached to a lever 117 which is on the outside of the back plate 15 and said pin 115 extends through said plate 15 in a slot 119 therein which permits the pin and lever unit to be raised and lowered for a limited movement. Said lever 117 is fastened around bolt 57 and held by shouldered nut 121. A spring 125 is held at one end by screw 123 and the opposite end of said spring 125 extends into aperture 127 in lever 117 thus providing a force upward on lever 117, said spring 125 being caused to be supported .by and passing over nut 121. The position of rest of lever 117 is controlled by the small stop 129 held by one of the screws 131 which also hold in place anvil 35. An extension of pawl 25 in the form of plate 131 is so formed as to pass over pin 115 when said pawl 25 is in an advanced position, the characteristic location when the pogo is not in use.

Pin 115 also extends under hammer 31 so that when lever 117 is moved downward the pin 115, being firmly affixed to lever 117, also moves and catches under both the pawl extension 131 and hammer 31, causing same to be moved away from anvi-l 35 and leaving a small slot-like opening for receiving the paper tape from tape roll 27. When said tape has been inserted, said lever 117 is released, thus lowering hammer 31 and pawl 25 into contact with said paper tape. The lever 117 moves further slightly to advance pin 115 to a point where it cannot be in further contact with the pawl 25 and the hammer 31.

As an alternate noise-making device for such a pogo stick, or as an added noise-making device, the present invention includes the combination of a siren horn and actuating mechanism with the pogo stick of the type described, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A siren horn 8 1, which produces sound by rapid rotation of a rotor therein, is mounted in a suitable manner between plates 15. The rotor of the siren horn is turned by application of torque to its center shaft which also carries a pinion gear 83 firmly attached thereto. Said pinion gear is driven by gear 85, which latter is caused to rotate by tension on a spring 87 when said spring is wound in tension, one end of said spring 87 being fastened to gear 85 by means of a suitable pin 103. The other end of spring 87 is fastened securely to a ratchet wheel 89 near the center thereof or to shaft 105 upon which gear 85 and ratchet wheel are mounted, said shaft 105 being either in the form of a rod affixed to one of the two plates 15 or a shaft supported by both plates 15.

Meshed with ratchet wheel 89 is a moving pawl 93 and a stationary pawl 91, the latter being supported by pin 107 which extends from one of plates 15. The moving pawl 93 is rotatably attached by means of pin 109 to actuating arm 95.

Actuating arm 95 is mounted on pin 99 which is attached to either or both plates 15 and said actuating arm 95 extends through an opening or slit 111 in the body 1 so that the extension of arm 95 is positioned between piston 7 and plug 3. With the actuating arm 95 is a spring 97, one end of which applies a force on the top of pawl 93, so positioned that the approximate center of said spring 97 passes below pin 99 and with the other end app-lying force to pin 161, which is attached to one or both plates 15.

When the pogo stick is in use, the iston 7 is caused to move more or less rapidly upward and downward with the result that the actuating arm 95 moves clockwise and counterclockwise over a limited arc, causing pawl 93 to engage ratchet wheel 89 in successively different positions, thus causing said ratcret wheel 89 to turn and thus wind spring 87. Between each motion of the actuating arm 95 and pawl 93 the ratchet wheel is prevented from unwinding the spring 87 by engaging pawl 91, which latter is mounted on pin 167, said pin 107 being attached to either or both plates 15.

As the spring 87 is wound the force applied thereto as torque to gear 85 causes said gear 85 to turn, thus also causing pinion gear 83 and siren horn 81 to turn rapidly due to the ratio of gear sizes. The volume and pitch of the sound produced thereby will depend in large measure on the rate of the pogo stick operation.

Of importance, in part, are the materials of construction if relatively long service is to be obtained, particularly in respect to the cap exploding mechanism. The corrosive action of the combustion products from the explosions of the caps is very great where the mechanism is made of ordinary cold formed or hot rolled steel, whereupon the parts become rough and corroded resulting in malfunction and ultimately (though rather soon) complete failure. This problem has been solved by using stainless steel for the more important elements, including a stainless steel shield for plates 15, the anvil 35 and all moving parts except the actuating arm 23 where aluminum is used, taking advantage of its low density and general freedom from attack in this particular application. Likewise, other corrosion resistant metals and alloys may be used for the purpose of maintaining the integrity of the cap advancing and firing mechanism. A

From the foregoing description it is seen that the. pogo stick, as a recreational device for individual locomotion, with its essential components as fully set forth is a part of a combination with includes a noise-making mechanism mounted in at least one of the channels formed by the transverse foot-supporting members and actuated by a part of an element thereof extending through the main tubular body and in engaging relationship with the reverse of the piston during certain stages in the reciprocation thereof in the operation of the recreational device. Two such noise making mechanisms as illustrative of the scope of the invention are described in detail, showing the pogo stick in combination with either or both the cap advancing and firing mechanism and the siren and its actuating mechanism.

It will be seen, therefore, that this invention actually may be carried out by the use of various modifications and changes without departing from its spirit and scope, with only such limitations thereon as may be imposed by the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a recreational device foot powered for individual locomotion comprising a main tubular body,

a guided piston in one end of said tubular body,

a compressed spring in said tubular body exerting a downward pressure on the obverse of said piston,

and transverse members rigidly, afiixed to said tubular body near the end in which said piston is located adapted to provide a step for the operating individual and a channel between said members on each side of said tubular body, the combination with such device which comprises a noise making mechanism mounted in at least one: of said channels and actuated by a part of an ele-.

ment thereof extending through said tubular body and in engaging relationship with the reverse of said piston, at least during part of the reciprocation thereof in the operation of said recreational device. 2. In the device defined in claim 1 wherein said noise making mechanism comprises means for successively advancing caps in a paper percussion cap tape to the'face of an anvil, and means for forcibly contacting individual caps on said anvil with a hammer for exploding said caps.

3. In the device defined in claim 1 wherein said noise making mechanism comprises a spring actuated siren, and I means for energizing saidspring thereby causing said siren to emit its characteristic vibrations.

4. In the recreational device defined in claim 1 wherein a noise making mechanism is located in each of the two channels with one of said noise making mechanisms comprising means for successively advancing caps in a paper percussion cap tape to the face of an anvil and means for'forcibly contacting individual caps on said anvil with a hammer for exploding saidcaps, and with I the other of said noise making mechanisms comprising a spring actuated siren and means for energizing said spring thereby causing said siren to emit its characteristic vibrations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,732,865 Smith Qct. 22, 1929. 2,510,509 Mays June 6, 1950 2,712,443 Hohberger July 5, 1955. 2,793,036 Hansburg May 21, 1957 2,929,459 Spitzmesser Mar. 22, 1960 

1. IN A RECREATIONAL DEVICE FOOT POWERED FOR INDIVIDUAL LOCOMOTION COMPRISING A MAIN TUBULAR BODY, A GUIDED PISTON IN ONE END OF SAID TUBULAR BODY, A COMPRESSED SPRING IN SAID TUBULAR BODY EXERTING A DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE OBVERSE OF SAID PISTON, AND TRANSVERSE MEMBERS RIGIDLY AFFIXED TO SAID TUBULAR BODY NEAR THE END IN WHICH SAID PISTON IS LOCATED ADAPTED TO PROVIDE A STEP FOR THE OPERATING INDIVIDUAL AND A CHANNEL BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS ON EACH SIDE OF SAID TUBULAR BODY, THE COMBINATION WITH SUCH DEVICE WHICH COMPRISES A NOISE MAKING MECHANISM MOUNTED IN AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CHANNELS AND ACTUATED BY A PART OF AN ELEMENT THEREOF EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TUBULAR BODY AND IN ENGAGING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE REVERSE OF SAID PISTON AT LEAST DURING PART OF THE RECIPROCATION THEREOF IN THE OPERATION OF SAID RECREATIONAL DEVICE. 